Silver Spring, Maryland (October 4, 2011) – The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) announced that the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has been recognized for its Significant Achievement in the newly established Green Award for its outstanding environmental consciousness and institutional green practices.

The Green Award recognizes programs that exist institution-wide to reduce the environmental impact of the organization from a business operations standpoint.

“The Cincinnati Zoo recognizes that how it operates its facilities is an important part of conservation,” said AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy. “AZA applaudsCincinnati Zoo for aggressively incorporating green practices into its business model.”

In 2006, the Cincinnati Zoo implemented an aggressive sustainability program. In spite of the institution’s ups and downs, the program successfully transformed the Cincinnati Zoo – aesthetically, financially, and culturally. Now embedded in the organization, the idea of an institution-wide sustainability program was implemented with a practical, common sense approach. The end result was millions of dollars in utility savings, a plummeting carbon footprint, and the reputation as a national leader in sustainability.

, we realize the importance of sustainability, not only to fulfill our mission of conservation but to uphold our bottom line,” said Cincinnati Zoo Director, Thane Maynard. “Sustainability is a practice that has been incorporated into our daily operations, and has become an integral part of our strategic plan.”

Rated by peer zoological parks as one of the best zoos in the nation, the Cincinnati Zoo continues to set the standard for conservation, education and preservation of wild animals and wild spaces. Over 1.2 million people visit the Zoo annually. The Zoo features more than 500 animals and 3,000 plant species, making it one of the largest Zoo collections in the country. For more information, visit http://cincinnatizoo.org.

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. To learn more visit www.aza.org.